“He’s just the manager,” says Plymouth Argyle’s homegrown midfielder. “As weird as it sounds, he’s just someone I work for and who tells me what to do.
“I’m 24 so I obviously grew up watching him play for United in the Premier League and watching clips and highlights on YouTube. It was very surreal watching him walk through the door on that first day.
“But that ‘Wow, it’s Wayne Rooney’ thing disappeared really quickly. He managed to make himself very approachable and create a friendly atmosphere. Within literally a couple of days it was just normal to have a chat with him.
“Every now and again, you do sort of check yourself. He’ll be showing you something in training and it’s ‘Oh, Scholesy used to do this or Ronaldo did this’ and I’m thinking, ‘Jeez, all right mate!’.
“But, yeah, other than the occasional name drops and the flashes you see when he joins in, you completely forget who he is, just based on how he is around the place.
“He’s very down to earth. He loves to get involved in training. He’s always showing us stuff and giving examples of what we should be doing, but not in an egotistical way.
“He’s here to help. We’re here to listen. That’s what we expect from him and that’s what he expects from us. It’s just that mutual respect and that level of communication where we can talk to him if we need to and likewise he can speak to us in the same manner.
“I’ve learned loads from him being here and from picking up pieces in training, and from the other staff that have come in as well. I feel like I’ve come on leaps and bounds even within a short amount of time, and I feel like I can only get better the more I work with him.”
Bu hikaye The Football League Paper dergisinin October 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Football League Paper dergisinin October 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
MOORE'S CROWN HOPES SOAR
DARREN Moore said he believes he has the squad needed to bring success to Port Vale after his side secured a win over Fleetwood Town to keep them at the top of League Two.
GRIGG BRACE HAS DANNY LOOKING UP
DANNY Webb believes the Spireites have shown they deserve to be in the League Two play-off places after this convincing victory.
POMPEY POUNCE FOR A FIRST WIN
Tactical changes pay off...
ROBINS UP IN ARMS AS LEVELLER IS RULED OUT
COVENTRY boss Mark Robins was furious with the decision to rule out a late Haji Wright equaliser in his side’s defeat at Preston.
'DOWN-TO-EARTH WAYNE IS ONLY GOING TO HELP US GET BETTER'
WHEN Adam Randell was growing up, Wayne Rooney was England’s talisman, Manchester United’s record goalscorer and a global icon. Now?
HARRIS: WE HAVE TO BE RUTHLESS
FRUSTRATED Neil Harris has admitted he is fed up with talking about his Millwall side’s missed chances after they almost came back to haunt them in their draw against Derby County.
ROO SPEECHLESS AS PILGRIMS COLLAPSE
WAYNE Rooney says it’s difficult to put Plymouth Argyle’s performance into words after the Pilgrims were hammered by Cardiff City.
Resilient Robins pay tribute to Theo
BRISTOL City’s assistant head coach Chris Hogg reckons his players did Liam Manning proud after leaving the Riverside Stadium with three points.
DOLAN'S WINNER EQUALS RECORD...
JOHN Eustace praised Blackburn’s “hard work” in training after returning to winning ways with a win over Swansea.
CANARIES FAIL TO MAKE PELACH PAY
NARCIS PELACH was indebted to Million Manhoef as the midfielder’s equaliser ensured Stoke shared the points with his former club Norwich City.